Crowds annoyed at RAF Derwent Dambusters flypast mix-up

Media captionThe Typhoon was drafted in to replace a Lancaster bomber in a memorial flight

Crowds of people were left disappointed after a mix-up led to them missing a flypast by an RAF Typhoon over the Derwent Dam.

Spectators were initially informed a Lancaster Bomber, marking the 75th anniversary of the Dambusters raid, would not fly due to bad weather.

They were then told its replacement, a Typhoon, would also not fly, only for it to roar over minutes later.

The RAF has apologised to those who attended the event for the confusion.

Sqn Ldr Andy Millikin, the Officer Commanding the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, tweeted that the Lancaster, and later the Typhoon, could not make it to the dams due to poor weather.

However, not long after his post the Typhoon flew overhead as many people had already started leaving the Ladybower Reservoir area.

Image copyrightGetty Images

Image caption
Many people were leaving when the Typhoon thundered overhead

Sharon Fitton, who was one of many people who were annoyed about the mix-up, tweeted: “What a shame thousands of people waiting for hours to read flyby cancelled, yet Typhoon has just flown over all leaving spectators. Poor show RAF.”

Stuart Needham added: “I’ve got some footage of me and my missus in the pub listening to the sound of a jet flying overhead after reading and being told by a copper it had been cancelled.”